A spokesperson from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says there have been 14 scams this year which refer to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
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The scams were reported to the ACCC between January 1 and January 20 this year. However no financial losses have been reported.
The spokesperson said the scams included fake websites, social media platforms and crowdsourcing sites.
People are being urged to check if a charity is registered, prior to making a donation.
"If you think you have been scammed report it to your bank immediately," the ACCC spokesperson said.
People can check if an established charity or not-for-profit organisation is registered, by searching the Australia Charities and Not-for-profits Commission at https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity
A spokesperson from NSW Police said they are reminding the public to be vigilant and always check the legitimacy of people online.
For more information on bushfires and scams, people can visit https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/
People can report scams to ACCC's Scamwatch on 1300 795 995.
ACCC tips to protect yourself:
- If an individual or business is fundraising for an official organisation (eg Red Cross, WWF), you can donate directly to that organisation via their website.
- If the fundraiser is occurring on a crowdfunding platform, ensure the platform verifies the authenticity of campaigns and offers a guarantee to refund any donation if the campaign is found to be fraudulent.
- If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent a charity, you can ask to call them back. Search for the charity on the Register and use the phone number published there.
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